TNAG-1604-FCO40-2211-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-reports-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kon-1988 — Page 43

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should pay towards its upkeep.

Under that Agreement, Hong Kong meeets 75 per cent (at present some HK$ 1.5 billion per annum) of

the costs of the Garrison. A new Defence Costs Agreement, to cover

the period from 1 April 1988 to

has now been concluded. It

provides that, during that period, Hong Kong will contribute per cent of the costs of the Garrison or, initially, some HK$

billion per annum).

•

·

(b)

Illegal Immigration

68.

averaged

Arrests of illegal immigrants attempting to enter Hong Kong

per month in 1987 compared with 1,402 per month in 1986. This represented a further increase over the figure of 1,051 per month recorded in 1985. The numbers evading immediate arrest but apprehended later within Hong Kong (rose) (fell) (remained steady) to/at an average of witnessed a sharp increase in arrivals to

apparently sparked

by baseless rumours of an amnesty. Nearly all those arriving were, however, caught on entry and returned.

69.

...

per month.

June

In the summer, also, there was a sudden influx of former

Vietnamese refugees resettled in China who tried to enter Hong Kong

illegally. Some 7,367 arrived between 20 June and 22 August when repatriation began. With the welcome co-operation of the Chinese

authorities almost all of them have now been returned to China.

(c)

Crime

70.

Although there is heartening evidence that crime in general

is being contained in Hong Kong and that it may even be declining,

concern remains over the level of organised crime and, in particular, the activities of triad societies. Steps continue to be

taken to implement those measures proposed in the Hong Kong

Government's discussion document "Options for Changes in the Law and

in the Administration of the Law to Counter the Triad Problem" which

received widespread public support. Better protection is now being

provided for witnesses in triad trials, particularly through the use of one-way viewers for identification parades. Stricter penalties have been introduced for those found guilty of belonging to illegal

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